Clutch



Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLUTCH Donald D. Ormsby, Buchanan, Mich., assigner to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 24, 1944, Serial No. 523,742

6 Claims.

This invention relates to clutch means, and more particularly is directed to a clutching mechanism for coupling a gear and hub element for conjoint rotation with a rotatable shaft.

The invention finds particular application in transmission constructions where it is desired to provide for coupling a freely rotating gear to a shaft under predetermined conditions without necessity of physically shifting a sliding clutch member or the like into and out of engagement.

In the copending application of Robert Lapsley, Serial No. 526,829, filed March 15, 1944, there is disclosed a combined fluid torque convertor and transmission arrangement utilizing a gear construction in which the gear element is journalled for rotation relative to the main shaft of the transmission and is adapted to be selectively clutched thereto by piston clutch members mounted within the hub portion of the gear. The present invention is considered an improvement upon and modification of such construction for accomplishing the same result, although it is to be understood that the principles hereof are equally applicable to numerous other applications where it is desired to couple a gear element to a shaft.

In a preferred form of the invention there is provided a hub member splined or otherwise keyed to a hub shaft which hub member is confined within a gear element journalled in any suitable manner for free rotation relative to the shaft. Between the hub member and the gear element there is provided a coil spring which, upon energization, acts to clutch the gear and hub together to provide conjoint rotation of the gear with the shaft. The present invention concerns itself particularly with the mounting of the spring clutch element on the hub member andthe means for energizing the same.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simplified construction wherein the energization of the spring can be accomplished automatically from a remote point.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which the clutching engagement is controlled by hydraulic pressure which may be in turn automatically controllable in response to predetermined load and speed conditions which may require the coupling or release of the gear relative to the shaft.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision of a construction which is simple in design, can be readily assembled in position and requires relatively few working parts.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the follow- -ber has an axially offset inner portion 2l s'u'p- 2 ing detail description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a construction embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, there` is disclosed in Figure 1 a shaft 5 having the splines or teeth members 6 formed thereon and adapted to receive the correspondingly splined portion 'I of a hub element 8. The hub element 8 is therefore mounted for conjoint rotation with the shaft.

Mounted at opposite sides of the element 8 on the shaft 5 and splined thereto are bushing or bearing members 9 adapted to receive a series of needle roller elements I0 journalling the two side plate members I2 and I3 thereon for free rotation relative to the shaft. The lflanges or plate members I2 and I3 are provided with a rseries of circumferentially spaced studs I4 which are adapted to clamp the gear element I5 therebetween, thereby locking the annular gear element I5 rigidly to the flange members I3 and I2 for free rotation relative to the shaft. The gearv element I5 is provided with a smooth internal cylindrical surface I5 and with externallyprojecting gear teeth Il. Suitable thrust washers I8 are keyed into the splines 6 of the shaft 5"for holding the needle rollers I0 against displacement, the inner ends of these rollers bearing against the hub 'l of the hub member 8.

Coiled about the external annular surface I9 of the hub member 8 is a helically coiled spring 20, which spring has its coils in side-by-side abutting relation and has one end thereof as indicated at 22 turned radially inwardly and passed through a slot 23 formed radially in the 'left-hand face of the hub element 8, thereby'locking the end 22 of the spring against circumferential displacement. A suitable stud 2l!v is engaged through the slotted end of the radially,extending'portion 22 of the spring member for'locking the spring against axial displacement relative to 'the hub element 8. y Y

The opposite end of th'espring'z is provided with an outturned, axially directed portion adapted to be received in va radial notch 25 formed in a plate member 2B which plate'membored inwardly from the outer periphery of the '1 hub element 8 and is closed at its outer end-abyq means of the plug 36 threaded or otherwise secured therein. The piston Sdifisprovid'ed .with i a recess 31 in its inner end'which'fis adapted-tcl` receive one end of a coil spring member 38 seated in a counterbore :39f-'of12thecylinder 135;

The end of this counterbore is provided with aVV vent 40 for relieving back-pressure onthefend-l of the piston 34.

' `VThexoppositerend 'ofthegcylinderasxindicate'dat 42,111'sxprov'ded with 'anfinlet portL 143 Ydrilled throught the hubLelement .8 and leading inwardlytoward'the; shaft 5. .Thei'sh'aiti 5 itselfl is provided with an axial bore MadaptedLto receive a separator member disposed-:longitudinally. therein within :an: annular. bushing. orfsle eve 46. The sleeve 'zd'is'zprovided .with *radial .ports 48 whereby lubricating voilicaripass. radially outwardly through the bushings=i9 to'. theroller. bearings4 Ill.' lubricating :oil'fisfdirected through the passageway 50 into the .bore-441 of. theshaft and thenceA through the passageway 1491into .the i: portsllr 1 infclockwise rotationb of the. plate .26 vbywmeans.

fof the pin 'L33 causingthe'endi24..of'thezspring 20 toi-be energized forexpanding thezspring.; .Immediately upon initial '.expansionzof the spring tcoils, :a: clutching action `will beproducedibetween the n c'oiltspringsand the :internal i annular. surface ofi thetigearfelement whch'provides anlenergizing action: so. :that the successive coils lof; .ther spring v.are :progressively engagedzto .buildiup aucoupling .forcesthat will lpositively lockthe:gear` element l.I Sato..the.:hub:.element: 8 :to .provideffor conjoint 'frotation 'oftthe two members with: the` shaftr.

Upon release 'of vvpressurewin vthe cylinder 35: the spring ,39 will immediatelyV return the. plate memvber. Zivin a .counterclockwise direction,` thereby releasingthey energizing 4force fon the Vend 124` of thefspring, causing .the spring. to contract and. ref-leasing .the coupling actionbetween gearelement .;l"and;.the1hubf8 to releasethegear I5 toiree rotationrrelative to thefshaft; Theintroductionof fluid vunder-.pressure `into r the;.passageway` 52 may. be:I controlled by la controlvalve mechanism responsiveto speed` and load conditions-of 1a` vehicleV :orxother mechanism'.VA in r whichl' the: gear is'the :functionalipart 'of the driving train so that the clutching action will-hercon-L trolledhautomatically Vfrom aremote point .infaccordance with l any predetermined conditions.,

L It-is to be @understood that various changes may be made.y gin .certain details. of .arrangement of.; elementsas.shownfinfthe;illustrated.embodimentofi;

4 the invention without, however, in any way departing from the underlying principles involved in the clutching action produced in accordance with my disclosure.

I therefore do not intend to be limited except as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I 'claimt 1 1.1In combination, a shaft having ahub member keyed thereon, a gear member encircling said hub member and journalled for rotation relative to said shaft, coiled spring means interposed between said members, and means in said hubmember comprising a plate at one side of andeircumferentally shiftable relative to said hub'niember, means on said plate for engaging Van .endzofsaidfspring means, piston means in said hub member responsive to fluid pressure, andmeans connected with said piston means and engaging said plate for shifting said plate to thereby i energizefsaid spring means'and .clutch said .members ztogether;f i

. 2. In combination,'iarotatable'Jshait'` having a hub member splir'red'ithereon; said -thub member having Van 1external:cylindrical surf ace; lasprng coiled on :said 'surfaceand :having one lend .anchored vtofsaid hub member; a'radialplate shiftable circumferentially:relativet tofsaid :hub 'memberffor energizingthe; opposteiend offsaid spring to expand said spring, r a piston ..carried within said hub vmember and. having ranraxial projection engaging said .plate,xfluid"pressure means for actuating said-piston, and-a gear having; an internal surface 'closely encircling saidxspringand having means journallin-gfitfor rotatonwonlsaid 1 shaft, said gear having side wallportions radially enclosing said hubmemberandy plate.

3. In combination, a shafthaving a splined portion and an :axial'boreA with `a 4.radiali port in Ysaid splined portion, a -hubxsecuredon said-rsplined portion andphavingianiaiined port, a fgearencircling saldi hub rand ;journal1ed for 'c rotation4 on said shaft," coiled, spring; clutch: meansv `between said Igearand hub having one. end-securedy to, said nhub, a radialplate :havingsmeansY engagngfthe opposite-end of said springiclutchlmeansr.and pistonmeans 'carried by-isaid 'hubxand responsive .to -luid pressure through ,saldi portszfor frotating said plate relative .to said hubmember yto 'energizersaid clutchwmeansvto couple-fsaid gear and shaft -for conjoint rotation;

4.1Thecombinationof: claim-1 further'. .characterized in the provision .ofzmeansiiior .deenerv gizing fsaid4 clutch.. meanssimmediately 'upon'rrefor introducing ffluid under. pressure through said shaft and hub mem'ber...to i .actuate :said 1 piston, and a .gear rotatably'mounted on:said..shaft-'en .circling said: hub andzadaptedxto bezclutched thereto upon actuation of. said ypiston.; i

6. In coniloination;- a;sh'aft;^having ahub mem- '.facel of :said hubimember and circumferentially ,75.

shiftable;.relative; .tosaid muh-member; means' in 5 the outer periphery of said disc engaging the other end of said clutch, piston means disposed Within said hub member and having means engaging said disc for shifting the same, means for introducing iiuid under pressure into said 5 hub member for actuating said piston, and gear means rotatable on said shaft and enclosing said hub member and having an internal annular surface closely overlying said clutch and engageable thereby upon actuation of said piston 10 DONALD D. ORMSBY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 663,396 Stone Dec. 4, 1900 779,806 Schmucker Jan. 10, 1905 844,273 Fetters Feb. 12, 1907 1,266,550 Carroll May 21, 1918 1,917,484 Banker l July l1, 1933 1,159,717 Scott Nov. 9, 1915 

